Keeping warm in winter

Support available to help you keep warm this winter

The following help is available for those on a low income who are at risk of fuel poverty and associated ill health, such as elderly people; people with long-term health conditions; disabled or frail people; those in low quality housing with damp or black mould; people with young children; and homeless people:

Hotspots referral scheme: a scheme that can provide help with free insulation, energy advice, benefit checks and fire safety checks. See the Hotspots page for more information.

Practical support: a 'keep warm' pack (hat, scarf, gloves, blanket etc.); basic draught-proofing; a boiler service; small home repairs; or an emergency heater if the primary source of heating fails. This support will be delivered by home improvement agencies.

Outreach activities: locally advertised events to provide information and support to vulnerable people during the winter months, via coffee mornings and lunch clubs for example.

Winter weather village agent schemes: support to develop volunteer schemes in rural areas, to help vulnerable people isolated by bad weather. For more information, call Rural Action Yorkshire on 0845 313 0270.

This help has been made available via the 'Warmer Together' project. For more information and referral forms, see the North Yorkshire 'warmer together' partnership page.

More information about dealing with winter conditions

You may find the following pages about dealing with winter conditions useful:

• Clearing pavements and footpaths
• Safe winter driving tips
• Gritting information
• Road cameras and weather conditions

Our Twitter site also provides updates on gritting.

Related information from NHS Choices

Links to information about staying healthy in cold weather on the NHS Choices website.

Keep warm, keep well

Cold homes have a significant impact on people's health and can lead to serious problems such as heart attacks, strokes, pneumonia and depression. For more information on health issues related to cold weather, see the keep warm, keep wellpage.

Hypothermia

Hypothermia occurs when a person's normal body temperature of around 37°C (98.6°F) drops below 35°C (95°F). The hypothermiasection provides details about the condition, including symptoms, causes, diagnosis, treatment and prevention.

Winter health

Information about winter health, including beating the winter blues; flu and the flu vaccine; ways to stay healthy this winter; winter health risks; what to do in very cold weather; and how to avoid winter weight gain.

Winter health for older people

Winter weather can affect older people's health and wellbeing. See how to keep fit and healthy during the coldest months of the year.

 

• Please note: All external websites open in a new browser window and NYCC is not responsible for the content of external websites.
• GOV.UK - the cold weather payment
  If you're getting certain benefits, you may be able to get a cold weather payment. You could get £25 for each seven day period of very cold weather between 1 November and 31 March.
• GOV.UK - the warm front scheme
  If you qualify, you could get help worth up to £3,500 to improve the heating or insulation in your home through the warm front scheme.
• GOV.UK - the warm home discount scheme
  For winter 2012 to 2013, you could get a £130 discount on your electricity bill through the warm home discount scheme.
• GOV.UK - the winter fuel payment
  You could get between £100 and £300 tax-free to help pay your heating bills if you were born on or before 5 July 1951.